The Press Box.

Injured Red Wings Keep Improving

ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Detroit Red Wings team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov has regained consciousness and has begun to communicate with family members by writing, William Beaumont Hospital officials said.

Defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, also injured in the June 13 limousine accident, has been taken off a ventilator and shows signs of gradually regaining consciousness, doctors said. Both men are listed in serious condition.

Hospital spokeswoman Colette Stimmell said Mnatsakanov was able to write numbers and his name in Russian "with a great amount of difficulty."

- Wayne Cashman said he developed his communication skills at a very early age.

"One of the things about coming from a family of 10 is that you learn to work with people," Cashman said after officially being named coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. He replaces Terry Murray, fired a week after the Flyers were swept by Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals.

- The New York Rangers, who had trouble checking Eric Lindros and the Flyers in the NHL's Eastern Conference finals, have signed defensive-oriented forwards Mike Keane and Brian Skrudland. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.